<< prev

next >>

Hello MOJO Fitness Friends

Here we are deep in the middle of summer, at least for the North America areas, and with the summer in TX comes boats, swimming pools and bikinis (well, for the ladies that is- shorts for you guys-no shirts!) sooooo… my question to you is. "How is the bod looking for all the summer activities?"

If you haven’t taken the time to make a difference with your physique during the cooler months, I bet you aren’t going to be wearing those fun little summer time outfits… Which brings me to the next question, "Why are you waiting to make it your best summer yet especially when you have all the tools so easily accessible to you through MOJOWellnessPros?"

If you haven’t taken that deep plunge into your personal health plan, maybe it is time to start? Maybe LIFE has come and shown its harder side and you just can’t seem to find the switch to the lighter side again?

Well, let me share with you something personal (everyone loves a good story with a happy ending, right?) these last few months have been very challenging for me.. probably the hardest point in all my life! It is true.. this chapter of my life brings deep personal struggle for me; but I have decided to ‘take the bull by the horns’ and make it my personal ‘best of health’ chapter too!

Setting aside what might come easier, such as possibly eating to fill a void that I am feeling, I have made a decision that I am going to look and feel my absolute best.. Especially as I approach the big 40 this October.. there is absolutely NO time to allow myself to slip into a negative place.

True to Venice Nutrition form, I am eating my balanced protein, carbs and fat meals every 3 hours (yes, no matter what I am doing and where I might be) along with watching how much sleep I am averaging per night, exercising just enough to hit each muscle fiber for optimal fat loss, keeping my supplementation extremely simple (BNRG’s Proto Whey 2-3x daily, Multi Vitamins, extra Calcium, Vivix (an anti aging product my mom sells), and drinking water ALL DAY LONG!

This formula is working like a charm for me and I am feeling amazing even though my personal inner struggle still exists.

I am living proof that when Life Happens, the VN way of dealing with it WORKS!

Having the knowledge is key, so if you haven’t been absorbing all that is available to you as a member, please take some time to peruse through the Education tab where you can find all the fabulous webinars taught personally by Guru, Mark Macdonald.

Once you have the knowledge then you will need to apply it and make wise decisions based on the information you acquired. This is usually the hardest part.. putting it to practice and using it efficiently. Like everything else, you have to practice what you learn in order to achieve results. I guarantee that once you practice (and practice some more), you WILL end up mastering your physique.

Let me remind you, mastering your physique during the quiet phases of life might come easier, so be sure to really learn what works for you so that when the hard times hit (and they will for each of us) you will be prepared to stand firm on your Health Structure and not fall off the wagon! Much like myself, you may end up feeling better than ever and have success that you can’t even dream about!

Please don’t just take my word for it, but test it out.. be your own guinea pig and see where you need to pick up the pace and where you need to settle a bit. Sometimes that is too much exercise and not enough sleep .. or maybe it is too many supplements and not enough food throughout the day.. learning the VN way (which is completely based on science) will help you determine what you are lacking and why you aren’t possibly seeing your best!

Keep in mind, that IF you are still having some issues even after you have done all you can do as a member, either myself or a Certified MOJOWellnessPros coach can help direct you personally with one of the Nutrition Consulting Plans >>.

Now, please don’t waste any more time and get busy developing YOUR personal Health Structure so you can get out there and enjoy the summer as much as possible! You will be an inspiration to the others around you while feeling amazing and enjoying life .. after all it goes by so quickly and you only get one chance to be your best!

As always, Stay Fit, Love Life & God Bless!

XO

Monica Brant

www.monicabrant.com

www.FEMCamp.net

online membership information >>

consulting programs >>

Culinary Corner

by head chef Valerie Cogswell

Celebrate Summer with BBQ Shrimp Kabobs

Summer has officially made its debut, and your next BBQ is probably right around the corner. We know that you want to enjoy your friends, food and the festivities without feeling like you are missing out. These easy BBQ Shrimp Kabobs are the perfect solution: they’re so delicious, even your friends won’t know they’re healthy.

In this recipe, succulent pineapple chunks, sweet red pepper, red onion, and mushrooms are stacked with shrimp, marinated in low fat Italian dressing, glazed in sweet, sticky BBQ sauce and then grilled to perfection. Get creative at your next summer party with these easy, delectable BBQ Shrimp Kabobs! For the full recipe, click here to login.

join today >>

---

Surviving Summer Barbecues

If you are anything like us, you’ve been waiting all year for the summer! The sun is shining on your morning walk, the balmy nights are perfectly relaxing, and there’s nothing better than joining your best friends for delicious food and a cold drink at a summer cookout. So why is this article titled "Surviving" Summer BBQ’s? What’s not to love? Well, for many people who have made the effort to eat right, a BBQ can cause a little anxiety. You may worry that you’ll fall off the "health wagon" and lose the habits that you’ve worked so hard on all year long. After all, it’s an all-day event that involves loads of not-so-healthy food, tons of alcohol, and friends and family who may not live the lifestyle you do. Not to worry! Below are some tried and true tips as well as a few smart recipe ideas that our team has developed to help you enjoy your next BBQ without compromising your healthy lifestyle.

1. Remember, balance is the key to a healthy lifestyle. There will be times in life when you may overindulge: an extra glass of your favorite wine, a heaping scoop of ice cream or maybe even a pile of fall-off-the bone ribs at a cookout. Taking part in the occasional treat is normal, in fact it’s great! If you can live a healthy lifestyle while still allowing yourself the occasional treat, you’ve truly mastered balance and that leads to permanent change! The lesson to be learned here is that a little indulgence is good for you and keeps you from craving or feeling deprived. Just make sure to get right back on track with a balanced meal at the next opportunity in order to get your metabolism moving in the right direction again.

2. Plan for the event. If you know that you have a summer cookout planned for this Saturday, aim to be extra consistent with your nutrition and fitness routine all week long. Acknowledge the fact that you may overindulge at this Saturday’s BBQ, and plan the "off-meal" into your week. Use this "system" of acknowledging the "off-meal" and planning for it to help you to make extra effort all week to eat clean, balanced meals every few hours. Let the fact that you’ll be indulging on Saturday motivate you to get all of your workouts in and make the most of each one all week long. The process here is both physical and mental. By working extra hard all week to make room for this Saturday’s fiesta, you’ll physically be in prime fat burning mode by the time the party rolls around. Mentally, you’ll be able to let go of any guilt you may normally have (see Tip #1 above as a reminder about the importance of balance). After all, you’ve worked hard all week and you've planned to relax and indulge a bit with your friends and family. It’s a win, win situation!

3. Believe it or not, it’s a bad idea to deprive yourself all day Saturday to save “room” and “calories” for the big event. If you walk into a BBQ with every type of food imaginable at your fingertips and you haven’t eaten all day, you are heading for disaster! Always eat balanced meals one hour within waking and every 3 hours before a cookout. This way your mind is in control of your food choices, not your empty stomach! It’s also a smart idea to eat one hour before the event. Try snacking on a protein bar before the party to help keep blood sugar stable and allow you to make conscious food choices when you arrive.

4. And lastly, it doesn’t hurt to bring along some healthy and delicious choices, or at least know how to identify them at a cookout. Do your best to build a balanced plate with some protein and carbohydrates and keep in mind that most dishes offered at a BBQ will have more than enough fat (way more actually!).

Whether you are hosting the event or attending, the following list makes for delectable (and healthy) party food that everyone will enjoy.

• Try Marinated or BBQ grilled chicken breasts, shrimp (skewered with tails on), pork tenderloin, salmon steaks, large sea scallops, or filet mignon (the leanest red meat) on the grill. Meat, poultry or seafood and vegetable kabobs are also healthy and a fun change of pace.
• Instead of regular hamburgers, try using 97% lean ground beef. Serve with all the regular toppings and whole wheat buns.
• Chop a mixture of your favorite vegetables in large chunks (corn, tomato, zucchini, red onion, bell peppers) or try whole asparagus with the bottom of the stalk cut off. Toss in a bowl with quality extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper. Grill until slightly charred to really bring out the flavors.
• Instead of plain old pasta salad with a few veggies tossed in for good measure, go in the opposite direction. Use your favorite pasta salad recipe and make the veggies be the main ingredients. Triple the vegetable content (and vary it up - grape tomatoes, fresh bell pepper, onion, cucumber, banana peppers, etc.) and use the pasta as the filler, not the main event. Use a reduced fat version of your favorite dressing such as low fat Italian dressing in place of regular. If using a mayo based dressing, try cutting the amount of mayo in half and replacing the rest with plain, low fat yogurt- it will add a little tang and a lot of flavor. Lastly fresh herbs like parsley or basil really make a dish stand out from the crowd.
• Try whipping up a low fat dip like hummus or mango salsa (combine chopped mango, red onion, a small amount of minced garlic and jalapeno with a splash of lime juice and good olive oil. Toss with fresh cilantro and season to taste with salt and pepper). Serve with homemade baked whole wheat pita chips. (Hint - Mango salsa also works beautifully on grilled meat, poultry and seafood.)
• Fresh fruit platters are always well received and a perfectly sweet way to complete a meal. Try serving a variety of fruit with a homemade dip of Plain Yogurt, vanilla extract, honey and lemon zest.

Enjoy!

join today >>

You Asked | We Answered

---

Q:How many hours of sleep should I get?

A:Genetics are the key factor in determining how many hours of sleep you need. While some people feel amazing on 6 hours of sleep, others may need 9 hours to feel the same way. The most important thing is to listen to your body. If you feel you need that 2nd and 3rd cup of coffee in the morning, chances are you need to get more sleep. Equally important is the quality of your sleep. Some tips to increase quality of sleep: sleep in a dark room, do not sleep with the TV or radio on, keep the room at a comfortable temperature and try to stay on a sleep schedule (going to sleep and waking up at similar times each day).

Quick Tip:

Pass this newsletter on to a friend to inspire them! >>